Sussex Police are launching a campaign to entice officers from the Metropolitan force to join them.

Some Sussex officers are applying to join the Met where they can earn £5,000 more a year.

Sussex is fighting back and recruitment posters will be going up at railway stations around the county later this year.

They will target commuters who may be fed up with lengthy train travel to and from London.

They will not be specifically directed at Met officers living in Sussex but one force insider said: "The force would love them to transfer here."

There has been a net gain of officers transferring from the Met in recent years but there are fears this may change as more local police officers are attracted by extra pay in London.

The Government last year allowed the Met to pay its officers £5,000 a year more because of spiralling costs of living.

Sussex officers were only awarded an extra £1,000.

With free train travel to and from London and benefits, they could receive more than £6,000 extra by moving.

Inspector Graham Alexander, of the Sussex Police branch of the Police Federation, said: "It has become a ruthless marketplace and we have made the point to our chief that the force has to become more competitive.

"The £1,000 for Sussex officers is nonsense considering the high cost of living in the county.

"We have been trying to negotiate with railway companies for travel concessions for local officers."

A spokesman for Sussex Police said the force was managing to hire suitable new recruits but another way of reaching the force's target of 3,100 police was to hire serving officers from elsewhere.

He said: "We don't see it as poaching but there is certainly increased competition between forces and we are determined to hold our own.

"The chief constable is taking a personal interest in this and he is inviting any officer wanting to transfer to discuss their issues with him."

The spokesman confirmed there would be an "aggressive" advertising campaign later this year to entice rail commuters to give up three-hour daily train journeys and to reap the benefits of joining the force and working locally.

He said: "The chief is very concerned to ensure Sussex remains an attractive force to work for."